http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3376&hilit=immune+hormones
This thread above was hated by some but I believe it has merit if viewed as fin having the potential of altering immune response because immune response is partially controlled by hormones. I’m not applying relative terms like “better” or “worse”. Let’s focus on altered. I know that my immune system doesn’t react in the same way as pre fin. I used to get sick and have lots of phlegm for example, now I never have any. Keep this in mind and read the following excerpt from wiki as it links low vitamin D levels, which we all seem to have, with impaired immune response. It also links testosterone, thyroid hormones, female sex hormones, prolactin, growth hormone, and sleep cycles. In addition we know cortisol affects immune response.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_system
Hormones can act as immunomodulators, altering the sensitivity of the immune system. For example, female sex hormones are known immunostimulators of both adaptive[95] and innate immune responses.[96] Some autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus strike women preferentially, and their onset often coincides with puberty. By contrast, male sex hormones such as testosterone seem to be immunosuppressive.[97] Other hormones appear to regulate the immune system as well, most notably prolactin, growth hormone and vitamin D.[98][99]
Part of the mechanism by which vitamin D acts to modulate the immune system is by working with “naive” T-cells and activating them so they can attack foreign pathogens. When a T-cell encounters a foreign pathogen like an invading virus or harmful bacteria, the first thing that it does is look around for vitamin D. Once the T-cell finds vitamin D, it binds to it to “activate” itself and become a killer T-cell. Without this activation, T-cells may detect the pathogen, but will not respond with an attack and instead remain “naive”. In this way vitamin D acts as the “on” switch for this critical part of the immune system.[100]
The immune system is affected by sleep and rest,[104] and sleep deprivation is detrimental to immune function.[105] Complex feedback loops involving cytokines, such as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α produced in response to infection, appear to also play a role in the regulation of non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.[106] Thus the immune response to infection may result in changes to the sleep cycle, including an increase in slow-wave sleep relative to REM sleep.[107]
